Musikfest turnout tops 900,000

ArtsQuest predicts the festival will break even

Crowds under the Main Street ramp of the Hill-to-Hill Bridge on the final… (BRIAN HINELINE, SPECIAL…)

August 16, 2012|By Nicole Radzievich", Of The Morning Call

Musikfest attracted 920,000 people over 10 days this year to Bethlehem, a 7 percent boost over last year's turnout that produced a $750,000 shortfall.

While the attendance falls short of the million-person benchmark of years past, organizers at ArtsQuest call the 29th annual festival a successful rebound from last year when rain and flooding chased festival goers away.

"While complete financial information on Musikfest 2012 won't be available until late October, our initial reports indicate that the festival should break even this year," ArtsQuest President Jeff Parks said.

The Sands Steel Stage, which featured 10 headline concerts at the festival's only ticketed venue and a fireworks finale on the last day, attracted more than 48,000 people.

In addition,17,000 people downloaded the festival's new mobile app, which included interactive information on the 515 performances and 15 venues.

The festival, which ran Aug. 3-12, marked its second year split between north and south Bethlehem. The festival moved six venues – including the headliner stage – to the SteelStacks campus, an arts and entertainment campus that opened last year at the former Bethlehem Steel property.

ArtsQuest also noted an 11 percent increase in the number of volunteers. According to the release, 1,780 people volunteered from 11 states and 23 countries, ranging from Brazil to Pakistan, through the Community College International Development Program of Northampton Community College.